84 General Notes. [Janu 
differ. We find that they not only leave an unsightly brown 
mark wherever they touch the paper, but that by the time they 
have entirely evaporated and left only a sooty residuum, there i 
generally discoloration of the paper in the immediate neighbor 
hood even where there has been ro contact. 
Our experience would indicate that the cones destroy mites and 
Psoci very soon, but have little effect on Dermestide. 
ALTERNATION OF CROPS VERSUS THE WHEAT-STALK IsosOMA 
Professor G. H. French, of Carbondale, Ills., recently wrote us the 
lowing note: “I was in three wheat-fields yesterday, two that wer 
in wheat last year and one in clover. The first two had about 
ninety-three per cent. of the stalks containing from one to thr 
worms each; the other not more than 5 per cent. where examined — 
—a good proof of the efficacy of the alternation of crops. Th 
season was very favorable for the growth of the wheat, but the 
heads were short and not well filled at the ends.” 
RAVAGES OF A RARE Scortytip BEETLE IN THE SUGAR MAPLES 
OF NORTHEASTERN NEw York.—About the first of last August | 
(1882) I noticed that a large percentage of the undergrowth of 
sugar maple (Acer saccharinum) in Lewis county, N 
was somewhat surprised to discover that fully ten per cent. of the 
were infested with the same beetles, though the excavations 
not as yet been sufficiently extensive to affect the outward apf 
ance of the bush. They must all die during the coming w 
and next spring will show that, in Lewis county alone, hu 
of thousands of young sugar maples perished from the rava 
this Scolytid during the summer of 1882, f 
Dr. George H. Horn, of Philadelphia, to whom I sent specime 
for identification, writes me that the beetle is Corthylus pune 
mus Zim., and that nothing is known of its habits. I take P 
ure, therefore, in contributing the present account, meagre as- 
